Dugan
New member
aka "The Weenie Section" - Third time's the charm
M-M sections 13 (do-over from Day 3), 12, 11, 10, and 9
Participants: Dugan, Jade, Jessbee, NH_Mtn_Hiker, TramperAl
After much watching of the deteriorating weather forecast for Saturday, the group decided to brave the expected wet conditions. After rain on Thursday and Friday we expected wet trails, with a 70% chance of rain, we expected wet foliage as well.
We met at the expected location at the expected time, despite an emergency stop along the way by NH and I to clear a blowdown from a road. I've seen him clear trails, clearing the road was a first. We got the cars spotted, and off we went from Shutesbury Road to re-do section 13. We'd opted to repeat the section because on Day 3 we made a wrong turn and followed old rather than current trail. It's easy to see why - as you're southbound, when you reach the pipeline, you can turn up or downhill. Both ways are blazed. It's down hill that is current.
We reached the stone culverts at the parking area that marks the north end of section 12. Our next obvious landmark were the ledges on Mt Orient. We stopped, snacked, and much hilarity ensued. As we descended the ledges, NH once again disregarded rule #1, "Thou Shalt Not Fall". He stepped on a slab and somehow ended up face against the slab, hanging from the top by his fingertips. Luckily, there wasn't much of anywhere for him to slide had he not stopped himself. I give it a 9.8.
We continued along with little incident to reach the tower on Mt Lincoln. We ascended the tower to see some hazy views. We could see some of the Holyoke Range, which will be included with Day 5. We quickly made our way down Lincoln to our lunch break. Since we'd expected to be soaked with rain, we'd decided to leave a car at the halfway point so as to enjoy a dry lunch. To this point, it still hadn't rained - we even saw some bits of blue sky. We opened the car, spread out a blanket, and enjoyed a road side picnic.
More hilarity ensued as we belatedly celebrated the birthdays of Jade and NH. Unfortunately, none of us brought a camera since we'd expected to be rain soaked. Words can't capture the birthday silliness - we presented Jade with a gold tiara, NH received a blue ribbon, there were streamers, and a freshly baked chocolate cheesecake (baked just the night before by yours truly). We packed up the remains of lunch then took off down the road with Jade, resplendant in her tiara, doing her royalty wave to the passing cars...
We kept going and going. Though most of these sections are rather non-descript despite the guidebook phrases of "sylvan beauty", "dancing streamlets", and "crystal streams"; they are pretty and well worth walking. As we drew closer to the end the clouds started massing in earnest and we began to hear thunder. The pace picked up. We got back to and into the cars just as it started to rain.
After we got everyone back to their cars, all of us except TramperAl met back at Atkins Farm to enjoy ice cream treats. We got some good views of the Holyoke and Seven Sisters ranges that will be Day 5. As we waited in the cafe we could see the lightning bolts, hear the thunder, and watch the rain pouring down. One and all, though we chose to walk thinking we'd be in the rain all day, we agreed it felt pretty darn cozy to be inside, eating ice cream, sipping hot cider, and watching the rain fall outside!
Stay tuned for Day 5 - M-M sections 7 & 8 - includes the Norwottuck Horse Caves, many overlooks, 2 on trail museums, and lunch at Atkins yummm....
M-M sections 13 (do-over from Day 3), 12, 11, 10, and 9
Participants: Dugan, Jade, Jessbee, NH_Mtn_Hiker, TramperAl
After much watching of the deteriorating weather forecast for Saturday, the group decided to brave the expected wet conditions. After rain on Thursday and Friday we expected wet trails, with a 70% chance of rain, we expected wet foliage as well.
We met at the expected location at the expected time, despite an emergency stop along the way by NH and I to clear a blowdown from a road. I've seen him clear trails, clearing the road was a first. We got the cars spotted, and off we went from Shutesbury Road to re-do section 13. We'd opted to repeat the section because on Day 3 we made a wrong turn and followed old rather than current trail. It's easy to see why - as you're southbound, when you reach the pipeline, you can turn up or downhill. Both ways are blazed. It's down hill that is current.
We reached the stone culverts at the parking area that marks the north end of section 12. Our next obvious landmark were the ledges on Mt Orient. We stopped, snacked, and much hilarity ensued. As we descended the ledges, NH once again disregarded rule #1, "Thou Shalt Not Fall". He stepped on a slab and somehow ended up face against the slab, hanging from the top by his fingertips. Luckily, there wasn't much of anywhere for him to slide had he not stopped himself. I give it a 9.8.
We continued along with little incident to reach the tower on Mt Lincoln. We ascended the tower to see some hazy views. We could see some of the Holyoke Range, which will be included with Day 5. We quickly made our way down Lincoln to our lunch break. Since we'd expected to be soaked with rain, we'd decided to leave a car at the halfway point so as to enjoy a dry lunch. To this point, it still hadn't rained - we even saw some bits of blue sky. We opened the car, spread out a blanket, and enjoyed a road side picnic.
More hilarity ensued as we belatedly celebrated the birthdays of Jade and NH. Unfortunately, none of us brought a camera since we'd expected to be rain soaked. Words can't capture the birthday silliness - we presented Jade with a gold tiara, NH received a blue ribbon, there were streamers, and a freshly baked chocolate cheesecake (baked just the night before by yours truly). We packed up the remains of lunch then took off down the road with Jade, resplendant in her tiara, doing her royalty wave to the passing cars...
We kept going and going. Though most of these sections are rather non-descript despite the guidebook phrases of "sylvan beauty", "dancing streamlets", and "crystal streams"; they are pretty and well worth walking. As we drew closer to the end the clouds started massing in earnest and we began to hear thunder. The pace picked up. We got back to and into the cars just as it started to rain.
After we got everyone back to their cars, all of us except TramperAl met back at Atkins Farm to enjoy ice cream treats. We got some good views of the Holyoke and Seven Sisters ranges that will be Day 5. As we waited in the cafe we could see the lightning bolts, hear the thunder, and watch the rain pouring down. One and all, though we chose to walk thinking we'd be in the rain all day, we agreed it felt pretty darn cozy to be inside, eating ice cream, sipping hot cider, and watching the rain fall outside!
Stay tuned for Day 5 - M-M sections 7 & 8 - includes the Norwottuck Horse Caves, many overlooks, 2 on trail museums, and lunch at Atkins yummm....
